Somewhere in between talking about skinning animals - Zuko had asked her more questions about it because apparently, he had found it rather interesting - Katara nods off, slumping against the bars with her legs curled up to her chest and Zuko somewhere sitting in the opposite corner.
When she wakes up, it's dark. The moon is high in the sky and she blinks, reaching out again to find what it was that made her jolt awake. The firebender didn't hear it - he's still snoring softly on the opposite side of the cell. Katara sits up - difficult because her arms are numb from being restrained for so long - but she manages without bumping against the Prince.
It's too dark for her to see anything but she turns her head to look at all sides of the cage anyway. She pauses, not even breathing and for a moment she wants to wake Zuko up so he'll stop snoring because something is not right here and she can't tell -
Heartbeats. They're loud for a moment before fading away again. Multiple ones too. Steady, strong but lively - a group of young firebenders, perhaps? It's not the beating heart of a grown man, that's for sure. But the beats flicker away and then come again and she realizes that the owners are moving. Weaving.
Katara perches on her knees and keeps looking - squinting, straining - because she wants to see if these weavers are friends or enemies. Either way, she wants to know.
"Zuko," she hisses in a whisper. With her heel, she tries to knock against his leg to wake him up. "Zuko."
He murmurs something that she couldn't understand even if she tried. She knocks against him again, kicking her boot into the side of his thigh. "We have company," she mumbles.
Turning back to the outside, she shuffles closer to the bars that face the camp and strains again. If she can just - yes, they're there! The hearts are beating quicker than the ones of the sleeping guards and they're clearly excited because she can sense them even from here. But why are they here?
"What?" Zuko finally seems to realize that something is happening. He sits up, kneeling by her side as he flips his hair out of his eyes - when had it gotten so long? - and looks at her. "What - can you see anything?"
"No," she shakes her head. "But there are people - awake, excited and probably younger - out there in the camp. I can't tell who they are or what they're doing here but - oh wait, someone's coming."
Zuko's shoulder brushes against hers as he slides back to rest against the far barred walls. Katara shifts and leans against the side, eyes keen and sharp as she looks into the dark. She can feel someone coming - an unrecognizable, beating heart somewhere in the shadows underneath the trees.
"Well look at this," someone says - his heart picks up a bit in excitement - "looks like the Fire Nation had themselves some prisoners."
There's a loud scream in the camp, a sharp flare of fire that is quickly cut off and then there are more sounds of alarm. Loud, panicked heartbeats swarm against her and she blanches, sitting back against the bars because it was so sharp and sudden.
She winces - so much pain and stopped hearts and it makes a part of her feel horrible and -
She cuts away from the sensations, blocking them out like she normally does in a battle so she doesn't have to feel the heartbeats explode into nothing.
"Katara?" Zuko's voice is at her ear, confused. Katara turns, opening her mouth to tell him that they are not along and the firebenders are under attack but then, she hears senses a few heartbeats. Zuko must hear their steps because his eyes snap away from hers to glare into the dark.
"A tribeswoman? Where did they get one of those?" The person has an Earth Kingdom accent and Katara smells dirt before she looks up to see a short child peering through the bars.
"Smellerbee get away - they might be benders. That one looks like he's got fire blood," a taller boy sneers.
"We're not animals," Katara snaps.
"Yet, you're the ones in a cage." The child blinks but takes a step back anyway. The waterbender thinks that it's a girl but she's not for sure. There's too much dirt covering the face and the clothes too big, hiding any sort of curves that would give a hint.
There's the glint of a sword and Katara's eyes shoot straight to it. The girl notices, squeezes it a bit tighter.
"We're prisoners of the Fire Nation. We're not the ones that you should be concerned with." Zuko attempts diplomacy. Ironic, considering he's the Prince.
Katara winces as another wave of halted heartbeats swarms. "What's going on? Who are you? Why are you -"
"Listen lady, I don't have to answer to you," the girl snarls. Yes, definitely a girl. "The best thing you can do is just sit tight and wait for Jet to come and decide what to do with you."
"Well then bring him on and let's see what he has to say." Katara narrows her eyes at the girl. The look she gives her is equally as cold. Zuko nudges at her side and when she cuts her eyes away she sees that he's glaring at her.
She huffs and turns away. She's about had it with talking. What has it gotten her? A damned cage and manacles.
The four sit - the two outside of the cage stand but that doesn't really matter - in tense silence. Every now and then, Katara winces from the flashes of fire and heat before another heart is cut down. The two in front of her don't seem to be benders, so who are they?
The girl glares at her and Zuko. The boy seems to be ignoring them but Katara can see that his eyes are too aware for that.
Katara is trying to find a more comfortable position when the two snap upright and turn. She pauses, thinking that it might be a firebender because she can now detect another heartbeat coming towards them - calm so she has to reach out to hear it - but the two don't tighten their grips on their weapons.
"So, what we got?"
"A tribeswoman and a nationer." The boy gestures back to the cage.
Katara hates cages more than anything. How...How undignified.
"Arrested one of their own?" A taller boy finally comes into view, hook swords swinging from his hands and he's just as dirty as the other two. Dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes. He's Earth Kingdom. His eyes flicker over Zuko before resting on her, and she lifts a brow in a challenge as he kneels to be level with them. "What's a tribeswoman doing all the way down here?"
"What are you doing in a Fire Nation camp?" She lifts her chin haughtily. He's cute - but he's not that cute.
The boy in question smiles. Katara's stomach flutters and yes - he might be that cute. "Looks like I'm rescuing you."
"Don't recall ever needing someone to rescue me. But now that you're here, you might as well let us out."
The boy - man, young man - whom she assumes is Jet because he seems to be the leader chews on the inside of his cheek before he nods and stands. He hooks one of the curved ends of his sword on a bar and pulls. It pops off, leaving just enough room for Katara to slide through and then Zuko.
Katara's back is a little stiff as she stands but she manages. What she really needs is to get those manacles off so her arms can get some feeling again.
"Thanks," she mumbles and tugs at her wrists. "Wouldn't know how to get these things off, would you?"
"Turn around and let's see." Jet winks at her. She rolls her eyes - because honestly - but turns anyway. Fingers brush against the bare skin of her palm before she feels a grip on the manacles. "Bender cuffs. This might hurt a bit. Try not to squeal too loudly."
"Oh, I'm sure it'll - ow! Spirits, what was that?" Katara yanks her wrists in front of her - her arms feel a bit heavy and still sting from whatever he did to get the cuffs off - and starts rubbing some heat back in them. Her skin is angry and red where the cuffs were and she feels the sting of healing already starting now that blood is flowing a bit better.
Katara turns back around and scowls at Jet. He smirks, one corner of his mouth lifting and it's a bit unnerving...and rather adorable - no, adorable would not be the right word to use.
Behind him, Zuko is shifting uncomfortably. His cuffs are still on. "Are you going to undo his?"
"He's got fire blood." Smellerbee shakes her head. "Wouldn't be smart to just let someone from the Fire Nation just roam free."
"He'll stay in the cuffs," Jet confirms.
"Why? You let me free."
"You're not the enemy. Besides, he could be a bender. Not a risk I'm willing to take."
Katara rolls her eyes. "He was in the cage for a reason and who does he have to turn to here? Just let him go."
"Sorry, Tribal Girl." Jet swings his hooked swords in his hands and starts backing away, something weird glinting in his eyes. "Got people to protect. He'll be better off dead, anyway."
Zuko stiffens, arms moving out of habit so that he can protect himself from the Earth boy.
Katara's eyes widen and she moves to stand in between Jet and Zuko - a rather odd position because she's not used to actually standing up for the Fire Prince but Jet killing him would be just wrong. "you're not killing him."
Smellerbee shifts forward, grip on her sword tight. "You're not calling the shots here."
"And neither are you," Katara snaps. "He's not going to do anything that would hurt you. Let him free and we'll be on our way."
"Rude way to repay your rescuers." Jet frowns but quickly covers it up with that smirk. It's almost as annoying as Zuko's smile. Almost. "You know that we're practically surrounded by more fire camps, right? One wrong step and you're in a cage again."
"I think we can manage," she says sternly. Katara stares the leader down, tense jaw matching his as his eyes narrow.
"Jet -" Smellerbee steps forward. The distrusting glance she has locked on Katara doesn't go unnoticed, but the waterbender has eyes only for the leader.
"Fine," Jet interrupts what the girl-child was about to say. Shocked, the girl pulls back, swerving to glare at her leader as Katara lets out a relaxed breath. "We'll let him go. But we're keeping an eye out on you two. You're going to need a guide through these woods if you want to make it out."
"Fine." Katara puts her hands on her hips. "I'm guessing you're going to be the guide?"
One corner lifts in a smirk that makes her stomach jump. "Wouldn't want to miss out, of course."
Jet walks forward - shoulder brushing hers and how dare he keep trying to touch her even if he does feel solid and a little nice - and slices through Zuko's manacles. The firebender's face is a solid mask and when Katara turns to face him, he rubs at his tender wrists.
"Here," she offers, stepping forward and twisting her fingers. She draws water from the sweat beading along her forehead and his and presses her fingers against his wounds. They're raw from the metal.
Zuko tenses but doesn't move while the water glows as she works the healing into his skin. A moment later and they're healed completely. Smooth, pale skin again.
Jet whistles. "Looks like we got ourselves a waterbender. Say, you got that etching thing, right? Care to show. I've always wanted to know what they looked like."
She looks up at Zuko - he's looking down at her - and she's still touching his hands. A beat, silent. Then she blinks and drops them, turning to give Jet a look that could make plants wither as Zuko crosses his arms over his chest.
"I need to get to Ba Sing Se," Katara declares with as much authority as she can. Smellerbee is looking at her and Zuko like they're scum - the rest of Jet's boys look like they're more concerned with the blood dripping from their weapons than anything.
Jet flicks his wrists, hooks now resting on his shoulders and he shrugs. "Might want to read the commander's personal notes first. Rumor is that the Fire Nation camps are starting to shift deeper and deeper into Earth Kingdom territory."
"The interior?" Zuko asks, confused. "But they've always stayed on the coasts."
"Exactly. Don't know what's happening but it's something. Thought you'd might know since you're one of them."
Zuko ignores this. "Did you keep any of the soldiers alive?"
"We don't keep hostages," Jet sneers, but then he smiles. It's everything that makes something in Katara's gut twist and nausea rise to her throat and her eyes narrow as something familiar and unwelcome shows in their new ally's eyes: bloodlust.
Zuko makes a sound of disgust and Jet raises a brow, challenging. Smellerbee's fingers play along the edge of her sword.
"Hey, Jet! Quit fuckin' around - we got somethin' over here!" Another girl calls from somewhere in the camp. Jet's eyes check over Zuko - like an Alpha sizing up a potential usurper - before he turns towards the tents.
Katara glances over at Zuko and sees he's glaring into Jet's back, something tight in his jaw.
"What is it?" Their new ally calls out towards the tents.
"Like I fuckin' know? Get your scrawny ass over here and see for yourself!" Is the reply, earning nothing more than a light chuckle.
Jet starts walking, motions for them to follow. Smellerbee slips in behind Katara and Zuko - the waterbender can feel the holes being burned into her back - and she hopes that they'll be able to get seperated from this rag-tag group led by this...this psycho.
Katara keeps her eyes on the leader's back, sizing him up. He's strong. Broad shoulders, lean build. When she reaches out to brush against his blood, she feels it's strength - his strength. It will take a lot of bring him down, if it comes to that.
Not to mention his followers. Smellerbee.
They make it to the commander's tent, Jet striding through the flap and she catches a glimpse of the commander's body in his bed before she enters and sees it completely. Red - so much red. She forces herself to look away.
A shorter, stocky girl with pale eyes is sitting at the desk, her feet bare and arms over her chest. When they all come inside, she perks. "The two strangers - benders. Who are they?"
Jet glances over her shoulder at Zuko and Katara. "Found them in a cage over on the edge of the camp. Prisoners. Said they needed to get to Ba Sing Se."
The girl snorts. "What are we? Personal guides? They can get their on their own." She sniffs - Jet gives her a glare but she doesn't seem to notice - "If they don't make it then they don't deserve to."
Katara's eyes narrow. "Excuse me? We didn't ask for your help. If was forced on us. We can make it out of here just fine."
"Yeah. Which is how you two got yourselves caught in the first place."
The waterbender's jaw tighten, blood running cold, and she jerks forward, hands balling into fists because how dare -
- Zuko's hand snaps forward, grabbing onto hers and she stops. When she whirls her head around to glare at him for touching her, he frowns and shakes his head.
Katara sighs through her nose. Then she jerks her arm out of his grasp and places her hands on her hips, turning back to glare at the girl.
Jet chuckles. Arms crossed over his shoulder, he kicks away from the cot where he was looking at the commander before Katara nearly though her little fit and slides over to the desk. "So, Toph, what we got?"
"Read it yourself, would ya? Or do I have to keep reminding you."
Curious, Katara reaches out, lets her touch slide across the girl's blood to see how strong she is - and she almost jerks back. A bender - strong one too. Probably Earth given the accent. She has lots of raw, hardy power that surprises Katara, given the girl's little size.
She really needs to learn how to not be surprised by people.
Smellerbee steps around her - purposefully hitting her shoulder - or arm really because Katara is a lot taller than her - and the waterbender fixes the back of the girl's head with a glare. Great - she's dealing with children here.
Jet and Smellerbee rummage through documents that are lying spread out on the desk, making a few noncommittal noises. Every now and then, they'll show one to the other before putting it away and looking at another.
"Bingo. Correspondence about the Northern Tribes right here," Jet smiles but for some reason, it still likes any humor. It only makes something sliver down her spine. "Hahn's going to love this."
What. "Hahn? Did - Did you just say Hahn?" Katara steps forward as Jet looks up, an eyebrow cocked. "Hahn as in the Northern Water Tribe warrior?"
The leader exchanges a look with Toph and Smellerbee before his eyes flicker back to her. "Yeah - why? You know him?"
"Know him? I've served with him. How do you know him?"
Jet cracks a smile at her and gestures to the papers on the desk. "We've been supplying your little rebellion with information for the past two years. You didn't think a guy like Hahn could get all that by himself, did you?"
"Well - no." She blinks. Truthfully, it never occurred to her that they had been getting secrets from the camp raiders. She always assumed it had come from sacking the offices from the camps that the warriors sacked themselves.
Katara strides forward, bridging the gap between she and the desk and starts looking through the papers. This time, Smellerbee doesn't even blink before she reaches out and grabs onto the waterbender's arm, pushing her away like she's nothing. Oh no she didn't.
The waterbender twists her fingers and pushes her away. A slow, lazy smile slides across her face as her eyes watch the girl who dared touch her. "I wouldn't lay a hand on me again if I were you."
Smellerbee's eyes widen for an instant before she narrows them again. "What- What was that? What are you? Jet - she can't - "
" - oh, I can - "
" - she's dangerous! She just - she just reached inside me!"
She misses the look Zuko gives her.
Katara ignores her, looking down at the desk again and sliding her fingers over a few pages. It's all here - Fire Nation schedules and correspondence right here, at her disposal. With this, what could she accomplish? Was this the reason that the rebellion was getting some sort of foothold on the Fire Nation?
Jet, for his part, doesn't move to stop her as her eyes scan down the parchments. At her other side, Smellerbee's heart is racing with anger and the girl in front - Toph - has a wry, loose smile like she's more than amused.
What a strange group.
"Hahn always talked about some waterbenders who reached inside other people," Jet humors and she glances up at him in time to catch his smirk. "Always thought he was crazy. Guess he wasn't after all."
"No, Hahn is crazy. He just happened to be telling the truth." Katara's eyes land on a letter from Zhao and she scans over it. It's written in the Fire language - something she only knows a little of - but she thinks she can make out the words ship and attack. She picks it up and turns to hand it out to Zuko. "What does it say? It's from Zhao."
Zuko takes it, steps closer to get to the light and reads. "It's about us - the ship." He looks up at her for a moment, then down at the paper again, eyes wide. "Un - Iroh - freed you out of your cell and you kidnapped me. Zhao says that I'm dead somewhere in the woods from wounds sustained in the fight and for all fire camps to keep a sharp eye for you. You're not to be harmed - only contained."
He swallows, continuing. "If I am found to be alive then it's proof that I am disloyal to my nation and the Father Lord. This...is a death warrant. For me."
Zuko looks up at Katara. She doesn't have anything to say - because what can she say? She reaches out, puts a hand on his shoulder because it's the only thing that she can think of doing.
She steps closer, reading over his shoulder to see if she can recognize any more words. Her and Zuko do have some sort of agreeing peace at the moment, but she still isn't sure how far either one of them is willing to stretch that. Yes, he's upset about the letter, but...oh this is confusing.
"Does it say anything about Lee?" She whispers.
The firebender rolls the letter back up, turns to look at her. "Iroh and another traitor who helped him have been taken to the Fire Nation to await their trial. They're being charged with treason."
She knows by the tone in his voice and the look in his eye what being charged with treason means. And it makes her spine so cold that she's worried it will snap if she moves.
"What are they talking about?" Katara won't even look past Zuko to glare at Smellerbee because she can't pull herself out of the hurt that it in his eyes. He's - He's growing cold again. Steeling himself. "What are they - Jet - what are they talking about?"
She tries to convey that she's sorry. Maybe he will understand that, maybe he won't. But his head droops just slightly and his shoulders slacken but his hand with the letter tenses and he's - oh, he's in so much pain, she can tell.
"Hey - you two - what are you talking about?" Smellerbee directs her tantrum to them now that Jet won't answer. Katara winces, but slides her eyes right over to the stout girl and fixes her with an icy cold glare.
"If we wanted for you to know, we would have told you. Clearly it's none of your concern." Katara forces between clenched teeth because this girl is really grating at her.
Smellerbee's eyes narrow. But she thins her lips and settles on a glare rather than a retort.
Katara looks to Jet. "When will you take these correspondences to Hahn?"
The leader reaches up, scratches the back of his neck and shrugs his shoulders. "We were planning on meeting within the next few days. If I had known you knew the guy, would have told you about that sooner. Lot shorter trip than to Ba Sing Se."
"Why would you go to Ba Sing Se?" Toph asks. "Don't you know that place is swarming with fire camps all around? You'd never be able to get through that."
"Doesn't matter anymore. We need you to take us to Hahn."
Jet nods. "Can do. Hate that you won't be sticking around longer though."
Katara resists the urge to wash the smirk off his face.
-/-
Jet has his band of Freedom Fighters - his term, not hers - gather all of the letters and stash them as neatly as possible in a trunk that had held liquor. The liquor, Jet takes for himself with a grin and even tosses Katara a bottle of fire ale, which she catches rather clumsily.
She finds her bag with their things in the commander's tent and Zuko gets her a clean outfit from one of the soldier's tents. She doesn't ask who it belongs to. Doesn't matter anymore, she supposes. The man is dead. Someone might as well use their things.
The crew raid the camp of anything worth taking back and then they're on their way, Jet leading them into the forest. Katara and Zuko follow, Toph somewhere at their side. It takes them a few miles before Katara realizes that the powerful bender at her side is actually blind.
It's in the way she moves - her bare feet are sure where they touch the ground, but the girl never looks down. It's as if she can sense where she's going without even trying. She just...goes.
Katara, on the other hand, stumbles every now and then on twigs, loose underbrush, and fallen trunks. She's tired, weak from lack of food other than the few apples Zuko gave her from the commander's room. Her arms are still sore from being shackled and tied up to the post.
"We're not too much farther from the port," Jet says and smirks at her. He's perched up against a tree, a piece of grass stuck between his teeth. Katara is taking Zuko's hand after slipping on a pile of wet leaves.
She scowls at their guide, withdraws her hand from the firebender. "Thanks," she murmurs and brushes off the grass on her knees. Wet leaves stick to her boots.
Zuko nods at her and looks away when she turns back to Jet. His own eyes narrow at Jet - looks like they're both a little uneasy about their new temporary ally. Makes sense for him to feel that way. Jet wanted to keep him in the shackles like an animal. So why does she feel a churning in her gut around him?
Katara eyes their leader's back as he turns around. She'll need to watch him - she isn't entirely too sure if she can trust him or not. She barely trusts Hahn and isn't sure if he is the best judge of character.
The firebender steps closer - she can feel the heat radiating off his skin and warming her naturally cooler nature - and turns her head just so that he can bend down close to her ear. She fights to drown the shiver that threatens to radiate down her spine.
Just because he isn't her enemy anymore doesn't mean that she should...react to him like that. Like this.
"Think we can trust him?" He whispers against her ear. His breath caresses her cheek, flutters her loose hair that has fallen from her braid.
The waterbender turns up to look at him. Shrugs because she doesn't know the answer herself. "Hahn does - but I'm not too sure about Hahn, either," she confesses what she just started thinking. "He and I are not on the best of terms. Never have been. But he's a decent soldier."
"I know I of all people shouldn't say this but…" Zuko blinks and his cheek turns pink - well, the cheek that isn't scarred and mottled, "I'd rather not run into another trap."
Katara nods. "I know. Neither do I." She looks back at the leader, throws a cautious glance to the blind earthbender, leans closer to Zuko so that those around them might not hear them. "If it starts looking like it may be another ploy then we'll have to get out."
"We?" Zuko blinks. Katara blanches - what? did she...did she read too much into this? Since when did she and he run into we? Oh Spirits she's in trouble.
"I - " she starts to stammer, turns as red as his Fire Nation colors and jerks away. Never has her blood ran so warm without being attacked.
"It's okay," he assures her, the corner of his mouth lifting up into a small smile, "I rather like the sound of that. Funny how one night in the cage can change things."
Katara's chuckle is a little less secure. She wraps her arms around her midsection and sighs. "Yeah. Funny."
But it isn't - this is dangerous. She can take him as an ally but...she has a feeling that she dabbling more treacherous territory. Territory that would probably bring more trouble for both her and him than having him as a simple ally will.
She looks over just in time to see his quirked smile shift into a tight frown - it's for a moment because then he turns his head away - and she wonders if it's because he was just thinking the same thing.
Allies do not have to be friends.
Zuko hasn't even decided what he wanted to do yet. She hasn't talked to him about how he felt about Zhao's betrayal; about the commander's words; about his potential execution just because it suited everyone's plans better.
He never mentioned how anyone would miss him. Katara wonders if anyone would. And that thought makes her more sad than anything. Everyone deserves to be missed...even firebenders with Fire Nation loyalties.
Wait - Zuko left with her. He abandoned the Fire Nation camp.
"What are you going to do now?" She asks, looking at him from the corner of her eye. There's a tightness in her chest, anxiousness twisting her stomach.
It's a while before Zuko answers. She almost asks again because she doesn't know if he hear her or not. But then, he does.
"I don't know. I can't go home. Or what I thought was my home. I can't - can't ever go back to the Fire Nation." He lifts a hand and twists his fingers into his hair. "I don't - I don't know yet...haven't thought it through."
She looks at him. Because she has a feeling that what he needs right now is someone who just listens.
And she can do that. She can do that for him.
"Right now, the only thing that hasn't really let me down is you. Funny, because just two days ago, I was going to turn you over to the Fire Nation and you had an ice blade to my throat." He laughs, short and throaty with no apparent humor in it but it's okay because she understands. She's just as confused as she is about this new alliance among enemies.
"I'm not saying that I'll fight the Fire Nation with you. They're still my people. But...maybe I can stick around a bit longer until I can find somewhere where I can go and figure everything out." He glances over at her.
"I can't promise that you'll be accepted. You are Fire, we are Water." She swallows - this isn't going to be easy. "But I'll do everything I can to buy you some time. Part of this is my fault. The only thing I can do is help you fix it."
"At this point, that's all I can ever hope for." Then, he reaches out, fingers touching her arm and they both stop so he can face her - truly face her - as comrades do. "Thank you."
Katara swallows again. Her throat is dry. "Don't mention it."
Please - don't.